PT2: Brief Development

Hybrid Sustainable Housing - Brief

Site -

The location of the Housing development is to follow the location from PT1 of the Major Project (see image above). The site is currently occupied by the Cascades shopping centre multi-storey carpark.

I am to maintain a low rise development with a high level of capacity in order to prevent adding to the number of tower blocks in the area.

Apartments -

1 Bed (39-50m²)

1-2 people (for example a young couple, elderly persons or solo living)

2 Bed (min 61-70m²)

2-4 people (Aimed at Single parents and young families)

4 Bed (min 90-120m²)

4-8 people (This style can be adapted to suit different situations, for example students living together, cohousing or a large family or multi-generational families)

The accommodation types provided will aim to unite diverse and minority groups. With living spaces for families, the elderly and people who are on their own. The residential area will build a community and aims to replenish a sense of responsibility, connectivity and purpose for the local area and its inhabitants.

For the past three years Portsmouth city council has missed its new-housing target set out by the government. In 2021 the council fell short by 20%. This has largely been due to an increase of incomplete student accommodation and lack of unprotected land for development. Source: The Portsmouth News.

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/portsmouth-city-council-told-to-build-more-new-homes-after-missing-governments-target-3410119

Students will ideally be encouraged into the residential development, alongside other individuals who would benefit from the job security, food security and from living with other people to combat issues such as loneliness.

Hybrid Program -

Alongside the residential aspect, the hybrid program will include: Urban Farming, a Commercial front for the sale/trade of goods, affordable work/shop space to rent, a Community kitchen and an indoor/outdoor market space. The program combines the agricultural process (growth, processing, and sale of goods) to one location. Each of the building uses inform each other and enrich the lives of the residents and local community.

This program is mostly informed by the ideas and strategies used in precedents from P1 of my major project. It also integrates sustainability strategies I have explored in other modules, such as my Dissertation: The Effects of Urban Sprawl on Biodiversity. In which, I have discussed the use of Urban Farming to reduce our consumption of natural landscapes for agricultural use, to cut emissions and to enrich our urban living environments.

Sustainability -

Self Sufficiency.

Compacting the agricultural process into one location reduces the amount of emissions through goods transportation.

Excess goods can be used within the community to provide food security.

Residents may work in the urban farms, maintaining jobs and income.

Children living within the scheme can be educated in the cultivation and cooking processes, maintaining cultural and traditional ideas and methods.

By choosing to reuse the structural elements of the multi-storey carpark, the construction process and wastage is greatly reduced, limiting the requirement of new materials.